The influence of inter-limb asymmetries
in muscle strength and power on athletic
performance: a review

Urška Ličen; Žiga Kozinc

¹Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, 6310 Izola, Slovenia
²Andrej Marušič Institute, University of Primorska, 6000 Koper, Slovenia

The influence of inter-limb asymmetries in muscle strength and power on athletic performance: a review

Monten. J. Sports Sci. Med. 2023, 12(1), 75-86 | DOI: 10.26773/mjssm.230310

Abstract

The aim of this review was to examine the available literature on inter-limb strength and power asymmetries and their effect on sports performance. In total, 31 studies were included. The findings indicate a negative effect of strength asymmetries on change of direction, sprinting, cycling and kicking performance. They may also be detrimental to jumping performance, however, more research is needed to confirm this. The findings on power asymmetries are more inconsistent and indicate that asymmetries measured with various power tests may affect some performance measures. For example, jumping performance is affected by the power asymmetries measured with jumps, but not by those measured with change of direction tests. Furthermore, the correlation between asymmetry tests and performance outcomes can be affected by the type of sport, training period and the magnitude of the asymmetry. To better understand the effects of strength and power asymmetries on athletic performance, further research is needed, particularly on the effects on sport-specific performance tests.

Keywords

imbalance, muscle performance, sport performance, neuromuscular assessment

View full article
(PDF – 499KB)

References

Atkins, S. J., Bentley, I., Hurst, H. T., Sinclair, J. K., & Hesketh, C. (2016). The Presence of Bilateral Imbalance of the Lower Limbs in Elite Youth Soccer Players of Different Ages. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 30(4), 1007–1013. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182987044

Bailey, C., Sato, K., Alexander, R., Chiang, C.-Y., & Stone, M. H. (2013). Isometric force production symmetry and jumping performance in collegiate athletes. Journal of Trainology, 2(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.17338/trainology.2.1_1

Bell, D. R., Sanfilippo, J. L., Binkley, N., & Heiderscheit, B. C. (2014). Lean Mass Asymmetry Influences Force and Power Asymmetry During Jumping in Collegiate Athletes. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 28(4), 884–891. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000367

Bini, R. R., & Hume, P. A. (2015). Relationship between pedal force asymmetry and performance in cycling time trial. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 55(9), 892–898. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26470634/

Bishop, C., Perez-Higueras Rubio, M., Gullon, I. L., Maloney, S., & Balsalobre-Fernandez, C. (2022). Jump and Change of Direction Speed Asymmetry Using Smartphone Apps: Between-Session Consistency and Associations With Physical Performance. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 36(4), 927–934. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003567

Bishop, C., Read, P., Brazier, J., Jarvis, P., Chavda, S., Bromley, T., & Turner, A. (2021). Effects of Interlimb Asymmetries on Acceleration and Change of Direction Speed: A Between-Sport Comparison of Professional Soccer and Cricket Athletes. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 35(8), 2095–2101. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003135

Bishop, C., Read, P., Bromley, T., Brazier, J., Jarvis, P., Chavda, S., & Turner, A. (2022). The Association Between Interlimb Asymmetry and Athletic Performance Tasks: A Season-Long Study in Elite Academy Soccer Players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 36(3), 787–795. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003526

Bishop, C., Read, P., Chavda, S., & Turner, A. (2016). Asymmetries of the Lower Limb: The Calculation Conundrum in Strength Training and Conditioning. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 38(6), 27–32. https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0000000000000264

Bishop, C., Read, P., McCubbine, J., & Turner, A. (2021). Vertical and Horizontal Asymmetries Are Related to Slower Sprinting and Jump Performance in Elite Youth Female Soccer Players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 35(1), 56–63. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002544

Bishop, C., Turner, A., Maloney, S., Lake, J., Loturco, I., Bromley, T., & Read, P. (2019). Drop Jump Asymmetry is Associated with Reduced Sprint and Change-of-Direction Speed Performance in Adult Female Soccer Players. Sports, 7(1), 29. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports7010029

Bishop, C., Turner, A., & Read, P. (2018). Effects of inter-limb asymmetries on physical and sports performance: A systematic review. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(10), 1135–1144. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2017.1361894

Blagrove, R. C., Bishop, C., Howatson, G., & Hayes, P. R. (2021). Inter-limb strength asymmetry in adolescent distance runners: Test-retest reliability and relationships with performance and running economy. Journal of Sports Sciences, 39(3), 312–321. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1820183

Coratella, G., Beato, M., & Schena, F. (2018). Correlation between quadriceps and hamstrings inter-limb strength asymmetry with change of direction and sprint in U21 elite soccer-players. Human Movement Science, 59, 81–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2018.03.016

Dos’Santos, K. B. dos, Pereira, G., Papoti, M., Bento, P. C. B., & Rodacki, A. (2013). Propulsive Force Asymmetry during Tethered-Swimming. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 34(07), 606–611. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0032-1327575

Dos’Santos, T., Thomas, C., Jones, P. A., & Comfort, P. (2017). Asymmetries in single and triple hop are not detrimental to change of direction speed. Journal of Trainology, 6(2), 35–41. https://doi.org/10.17338/trainology.6.2_35

Exell, T., Irwin, G., Gittoes, M., & Kerwin, D. (2017). Strength and performance asymmetry during maximal velocity sprint running. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 27(11), 1273–1282. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12759

Fort-Vanmeerhaeghe, A., Bishop, C., Buscà, B., Aguilera-Castells, J., Vicens-Bordas, J., & Gonzalo-Skok, O. (2020). Inter-limb asymmetries are associated with decrements in physical performance in youth elite team sports athletes. PLOS ONE, 15(3), e0229440. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229440

Hart, N. H., Nimphius, S., Weber, J., Spiteri, T., Rantalainen, T., Dobbin, M., & 6 Newton, R. U. (2016). Musculoskeletal asymmetry in football athletes: A product of limb function over time. Medicine in Science and Sports and Exercise 48, 1379-1387. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000897

Hoffman, J. R., Ratamess, N. A., Klatt, M., Faigenbaum, A. D., & Kang, J. (2007). Do Bilateral Power Deficits Influence Direction-Specific Movement Patterns? Research in Sports Medicine, 15(2), 125–132. https://doi.org/10.1080/15438620701405313

Işın, A., Akdağ, E., Özdoğan, E. Ç., & Bishop, C. (2022). Associations between differing magnitudes of inter-limb asymmetry and linear and change of direction speed performance in male youth soccer players. Biomedical Human Kinetics, 14(1), 67–74. https://doi.org/10.2478/bhk-2022-0009

Kozinc, Ž., & Šarabon, N. (2020). Inter-Limb Asymmetries in Volleyball Players: Differences between Testing Approaches and Association with Performance. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 19(4), 745–752. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7675626/

Lockie, R. G., Callaghan, S. J., Berry, S. P., Cooke, E. R. A., Jordan, C. A., Luczo, T. M., & Jeffriess, M. D. (2014). Relationship Between Unilateral Jumping Ability and Asymmetry on Multidirectional Speed in Team-Sport Athletes. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 28(12), 3557–3566. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000588

Lockie, R. G., Schultz, A. B., Jeffriess, M. D., & Callaghan, S. J. (2012). The relationship between bilateral differences of knee flexor and extensor isokinetic strength and multi-directional speed. Isokinetics and Exercise Science, 20(3), 211–219. https://doi.org/10.3233/IES-2012-0461

Madruga-Parera, M., Bishop, C., Beato, M., Fort-Vanmeerhaeghe, A., Gonzalo-Skok, O., & Romero-Rodríguez, D. (2021). Relationship Between Interlimb Asymmetries and Speed and Change of Direction Speed in Youth Handball Players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 35(12), 3482–3490. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003328

Madruga-Parera, M., Bishop, C., Fort-Vanmeerhaeghe, A., Beltran-Valls, M. R., Skok, O. G., & Romero-Rodríguez, D. (2020). Interlimb Asymmetries in Youth Tennis Players: Relationships With Performance. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 34(10), 2815–2823. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003152

Madruga-Parera, M., Bishop, C., Read, P., Lake, J., Brazier, J., & Romero-Rodriguez, D. (2020). Jumping-based Asymmetries are Negatively Associated with Jump, Change of Direction, and Repeated Sprint Performance, but not Linear Speed, in Adolescent Handball Athletes. Journal of Human Kinetics, 71(1), 47–58. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2019-0095

Madruga-Parera, M., Dos’Santos, T., Bishop, C., Turner, A., Blanco, D., Beltran-Garrido, V., … Romero-Rodríguez, D. (2021). Assessing Inter-Limb Asymmetries in Soccer Players: Magnitude, Direction and Association with Performance. Journal of Human Kinetics, 79(1), 41–53. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2021-0081

Maloney, S. J. (2019). The Relationship Between Asymmetry and Athletic Performance: A Critical Review. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 33(9), 2579–2593. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002608

Maloney, S. J., Richards, J., Nixon, D. G. D., Harvey, L. J., & Fletcher, I. M. (2016). Do stiffness and asymmetries predict change of direction performance? Journal of Sports Sciences, 35(6), 547–556. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2016.1179775

Morouço, P. G., Marinho, D. A., Fernandes, R. J., & Marques, M. C. (2015). Quantification of upper limb kinetic asymmetries in front crawl swimming. Human Movement Science, 40, 185–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2014.12.012

Newton, R. U., Gerber, A., Nimphius, S., Shim, J. K., Doan, B. K., Robertson, M., … Kraemer, W. J. (2006). Determination of functional strength imbalance of the lower extremities. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 20(4), 971–977. https://doi.org/10.1519/R-5050501x.1

Nimphius, S., Callaghan, S. J., Spiteri, T., & Lockie, R. G. (2016). Change of Direction Deficit: A More Isolated Measure of Change of Direction Performance Than Total 505 Time. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 30(11), 3024–3032. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001421

Pardos-Mainer, E., Bishop, C., Gonzalo-Skok, O., Nobari, H., Pérez-Gómez, J., & Lozano, D. (2021). Associations between Inter-Limb Asymmetries in Jump and Change of Direction Speed Tests and Physical Performance in Adolescent Female Soccer Players. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(7), 3474. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073474

Parkinson, A. O., Apps, C. L., Morris, J. G., Cleveland, T. B., & Lewis, M. G. C. (2021). The Calculation, Thresholds and Reporting of Inter-Limb Strength Asymmetry: A Systematic Review. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 20(4), 594–617. https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2021.594

Philipp, N. M., Garver, M. J., Crawford, D. A., Davis, D. W. & Hair, J. N. (2022). Interlimb asymmetry in collegiate American football players: Effects on combine-related performance. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 17(3). https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2022.173.20

Philipp, N., Crawford, D., Garver, M., Davis, D. & Hair, J. (2020). Interlimb asymmetry thresholds that negatively affect change of direction performance in collegiate American football players. International journal of exercise science, 14(4), 606-612. https://doi.org/10.31236/osf.io/2u6nt

Phukan, M. I., Thapa, R. K., Kumar, G., Bishop, C., Chaabene, H., & Ramirez-Campillo, R. (2021). Inter-Limb Jump Asymmetries and Their Association with Sport-Specific Performance in Young Male and Female Swimmers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14), 7324. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147324

Rannama, I., Port, K., Bazanov, B., & Pedak, K. (2015). Sprint cycling performance and asymmetry. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 10, 247-258. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2015.10.Proc1.12

Read, P. J., McAuliffe, S., Bishop, C., Oliver, J. L., Graham-Smith, P., & Farooq, M. A. (2020). Asymmetry Thresholds for Common Screening Tests and Their Effects on Jump Performance in Professional Soccer Players. Journal of Athletic Training, 56(1), 46–53. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0013.20

Samozino, P., Peyrot, N., Edouard, P., Nagahara, R., Jimenez-Reyes, P., Vanwanseele, B., & Morin, J.-B. (2022). Optimal mechanical force-velocity profile for sprint acceleration performance. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 32(3), 559–575. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14097

Schons, P., Da Rosa, R. G., Fischer, G., Berriel, G. P., Fritsch, C. G., Nakamura, F. Y., … Peyré-Tartaruga, L. A. (2019). The relationship between strength asymmetries and jumping performance in professional volleyball players. Sports Biomechanics, 18(5), 515–526. https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2018.1435712